CALLOUS thieves broke into football club causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Staff arrived at the Caernarfon town football clubhouse at the Oval ground last Tuesday morning and were shocked to discover that the building had been robbed.

The offenders smashed in a small window to gain entry before cutting the wires.

They tore apart three fruit machines making off with over £300 in cash.

The club’s committee members are now counting the cost of the break in, which is expected to exceed £2,000.

It is also understood that a house and car in the Hendre area were burgled in the town two days prior.

House manager Richie Pritchard said: “With times as they are now, we can ill afford to have these sorts of problems.

“It is not just about how much money was taken but also the cost of repairing the damage after it.

“For people to do this at a time when most pubs and clubs are struggling is just unbelievable.”

It is understood that the burglars gained access to the ground through the Hendre estate, breaking the lock off the door of an old turnstile building at the corner of the Oval ground.

The sweet toothed thieves also made off with a handful of chocolate bars and cans of fizzy pop.

This isn’t the first time that the club has been targeted.

Three months ago, thieves managed to gain entry to the club and attempted to disable the security systems although nothing was stolen from the premises.

The social club’s chairman Ian Jones said: “Obviously we are disappointed with what has happened and the trouble associated with repairing things afterwards.”

Local councillor Roy Owen said that footage of the two break ins in Hendre had been captured on CCTV set up by the Hendre Eye neighbourhood watch group and were now in the hands of police.

He said: “It seems that these were simply opportunist thieves who have chanced it.

“The Hendre Eye project has been very effective and we have just recently switched on another two security cameras on the estate so anyone carrying out crimes in the area will be captured on camera.”

A spokesman for the North Wales police said that they received a call at 7.20am on Tuesday, 26 of July following reports of a break in at the Caernarfon town football ground.

The spokesman added: “We would urge anyone with any information about these incidents, or anyone who has witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the area prior to or following the incident, to get in touch with us.”

To report information to the police, contact Caernarfon police station on (0845) 6071001(Welsh) or (0845) 6071002 (English) or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555 111.